New car showroom

Rover technical director Maurice Wilks ran an army-surplus Willys Jeep on his farm and believed a superior British version could solve his company’s needs for a successful export model. He drew the concept on a sandy Welsh beach in 1947 and a year later the Series 1 Land Rover international legend was born … and continues today, barely changed, as the Defender. A Station Wagon derivative introduced greater versatility, but Land Rover’s next significant product event came in 1970 with the launch of the more sophisticated Range Rover, with its superb off-road ability and practical, hose-clean interior. When a plusher interior was added in the ’80s, the Rangie became the forebear of the modern luxury SUV. The Discovery was introduced from 1989 as the brand’s all-rounder, and the nameplate now headlines one of three Land Rover product families: the utilitarian Defender range; the versatile Discovery range; and the premium Range Rover range (which includes the immensely successful Evoque).